Alarm bells over Nigeria’s digital identity adoption gap

…Delay weakening Nigeria’s global footing –Experts

Alarm bells are blaring over Nigeria’s widening digital identity adoption gap.

Stakeholders say the delay in embracing local digital infrastructure, including the .ng domain, risks deepening dependence on foreign platforms and weakening data control.

With the concomitant effects of that being too severe to ignore, stakeholders tabled the matter at the 18th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA) in Lagos.

At the event, industry leaders, policymakers and members of the tech ecosystem commended NiRA for maintaining a stable, secure and resilient registry over the years.

However, speakers harped on the urgency of catalysing the mass adoption of .ng, insisting that was the only way to secure Nigeria’s digital identity.

According to speakers, the .ng domain is no longer just a web address but a strategic national asset that sits at the foundation of Nigeria’s digital economy. They stressed that domain names represent digital real estate that powers businesses, enables transactions, builds trust, and ultimately contributes to jobs and Gross Domestic Product.

Stakeholders warned that continued reliance on foreign domains amounts to building Nigeria’s digital economy on external infrastructure, where control, value and data jurisdiction are largely outside the country’s influence.

This, they said, fuels economic leakage as payments tied to domain services, hosting and related digital activities flow offshore instead of strengthening the local ecosystem.

Although no official figures were disclosed, experts noted that given Nigeria’s expanding digital economy and millions of small businesses operating online, even a fraction of such offshore transactions translates into significant cumulative losses over time.

Despite acknowledging NiRA’s operational successes including steady growth in domain registrations and improvements in security infrastructure, stakeholders stressed that organic growth alone is insufficient to achieve the scale required for national competitiveness.

They argued that Nigeria’s current level of .ng adoption does not reflect the country’s size, digital ambition, or economic potential, especially when compared with countries that have successfully built strong local domain ecosystems as part of their national development strategies.

Instead, participants called for deliberate government intervention and policy alignment to drive adoption across sectors, noting that countries with strong country-code domains typically combine infrastructure with clear policy direction and public awareness.

A major proposal from the meeting was the integration of .ng domain registration into the business incorporation process managed by the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC). Stakeholders argued that making .ng a default option for newly registered businesses would significantly accelerate uptake, embed digital identity at the point of entry, and strengthen Nigeria’s online footprint from the outset.

They also urged the federal government to introduce incentives and regulatory frameworks that position .ng as a standard for digital credibility, while calling on public institutions to lead by example through full adoption of Nigerian domains in line with existing “Nigeria First” policy direction.

President of NiRA, Adesola Akinsanya, stressed the urgency, describing .ng as central to Nigeria’s global digital relevance and long-term economic positioning.

“.ng is more than a domain, it is Nigeria’s digital identity. Every organisation that adopts it contributes to strengthening our presence and credibility in the global digital space,” he said, adding that digital identity is now a matter of national strategy, not just technology.

Also speaking, NiRA’s Chief Operating Officer, Oluwaseyi Onasanya, highlighted the association’s commitment to building a secure and resilient registry capable of supporting businesses, innovators, and public institutions nationwide.

She noted that beyond infrastructure, the real challenge lies in perception and adoption, stressing that digital competitiveness today is driven by trust, visibility, and ownership of digital assets. She warned that nations that fail to anchor their online presence on local identity risk losing both economic value and strategic control.

Board of Trustees member, Biyi Oladipo, described NiRA as a model for effective collaboration in managing critical digital infrastructure, while also pointing to the need for stronger advocacy to bridge the knowledge gap around domain names as foundational assets.

Former President, Muhammed Rudman, reinforced the urgency, warning that Nigeria risks missing a critical window of opportunity if action is not taken quickly.

“Time is of the essence. The frameworks are there, but execution must follow,” Rudman stated, calling for stronger political will and coordinated implementation across government and industry.

Experts at the meeting also highlighted the importance of trust and cybersecurity in the digital economy, noting that locally identifiable domains such as .ng provide stronger signals of authenticity and accountability in an era of rising cyber threats, misinformation, and online fraud.

They added that Nigeria’s evolving regulatory environment, coupled with improvements in domain security and governance, provides a solid foundation to scale adoption if supported by the right policy and market incentives.

NiRA reiterated that plans were afoot to deepen partnerships with government agencies and the private sector, intensify awareness campaigns and continue investing in cybersecurity, infrastructure resilience and ecosystem development.

As Nigeria accelerates its digital transformation, stakeholders agreed decisions taken on digital identity and .ng adoption will play a defining role in determining whether the country secures its place as a leading digital economy or continues to depend on external systems for its digital future.